Big changes ahead for Louisville's Champions Park? Here's how the public can weigh in

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Big changes could be coming to Champions Park on River Road, and Louisville residents are being asked to help shape its future.

The city is exploring ways to reimagine the sprawling park just minutes from downtown. While the dog park remains one of its most popular features, officials say the space is underutilized and ready for a refresh.

"I think it is a great opportunity to better activate that space," Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "It is a great park, in a great location, so close to downtown. There's a lot going on around it."

The park’s large open fields and tree-lined paths draw dog walkers, runners, and disc golfers year-round, but several areas show signs of wear — and the park’s location in a floodplain presents development challenges. Frequent flooding and heavy construction in the area have complicated maintenance and planning.

Still, some parkgoers like Ian Bottomly see potential for new features, including live entertainment.

"An amphitheater could be cool — concerts, events," Bottomly said. "I like the big open spaces. Getting out and walking with the dogs — you can pretty much go anywhere you want."

Others hope the park remains largely untouched.

“I don’t know. It’s pretty great the way it is,” said Ian Walton, who plays disc golf at the park. "The tough thing is when you have stuff in a flood zone, it’s hard to get users to want to come, especially when it’s muggy."

Champions Park hosted the Bourbon & Beyond music festival, but after rain and flooding turned the grounds into mud in 2018, the event was moved to next to the Kentucky Expo Center.

Now, the city is asking residents for input. Two public meetings are scheduled to gather feedback:

August 11 at the Lynn Family Training Facility near the park on Edith Road.
August 13 at Locust Grove
Both meetings begin at 6 p.m.

"We have grown a park into a unique, peaceful, loving, active, tranquil surrounding,” said parkgoer Peggy Goetz. “I hope they keep that in mind."

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